On this day in history - December 13

What Happened On This Day – December 13

• 2003 Saddam Hussein captured

  Saddam Hussein, the fifth president of Iraq, was found hiding in a camouflaged hole in the ground and was captured by American forces near Tikrit, Iraq. The military operation that led to his capture was called Operation Red Dawn. He was subsequently handed over to the interim Iraqi government. After a trial where he was found guilty of crimes against humanity, he was executed 3 years after his capture in December 2006.

• 2001 Attack on Indian parliament

  The Indian parliament, the Sansad, was attacked by terrorists. 15 people, including the terrorists were killed during the attack.

• 1972 Last human landing on the Moon

  Apollo 17 was the last mission of the United States' Apollo lunar landing program. It was also the sixth and the last time humans landed on the Moon.

• 1795 Meteorite crashes into Wold Newton in Yorkshire, England.

  Major Edward Topham owned the land where the meteorite crashed. He exhibited it later, and today it is in the Natural History Museum in London.

• 1642 First European to Reach New Zealand

  Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer and merchant, reached the coast of South Island in New Zealand, and named it Staten Landt. Tasman was also the first European in recorded history to step foot on Tasmania, an island state in Australia. Tasman claimed the island for the Dutch crown. It is named after him as well.